Boiler-tube cleaner or scraper.



no. 672,296. Patented Apr/l6, mm. 6. 76. 81'. JOHN.

BOILER TUBE CLEANER 0R SCRAPER.

(Application filed Aug. 8, 1898.!

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet l.

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THE NORRIS PETERS c1). mow-WWO WASHINGTON, 11;v

No. 672,296. Patented Apr. l6, |90|L G. 0. ST. JOHN.

BOILER TUBE CLEANER 0R SCRAPER.

(Application filed Aug. 8, 1.898.)

(No Model. 5 Sheets'-She0t 2.

WITNESSES INVENTOR: Gunalcel aJ'ziJOkn,

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No. 672.296! Patented Apr. l6, I9Dl. G.- 0. ST. JOHN.

BOILER TUBE CLEANER 0B SCRAPEB.

(In llodol.)

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No. 672,296. Patented Apr. l6, I901. G. 0. ST. JOHN. BOILER TUBE CLEANER 0R SGRAPER.

5 Shouts Sheet 4.

(Applicafiion filed Aug. 8 1898.) (No Model.)

INVENTOR. Ga 60. 52 4707170, 9

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Patented A r. I6, mm.

G C ST JOHN BOILER TUBE CLEANER 0R SCRAPEB.

(Application filed Aug. 8, 1898.) I (No llodal.) 5 Shoets$haet 5.

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GAldALIEL 0. er. JOHN, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

BOILER-TUBE CLEANER OR SCRAPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 672,296, dated April 16, 1901.

Application filed August 8, 1898. Serial No. 688,079- (No model.)

To MZZ whom, it natty concern:

Be it known that LGAMALIEL 0. ST. J OHN,a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boiler-Tube Oleaners or Scrapers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to boiler-tube cleaners or scrapers. I

The object is in a rapid, economical, thoroughly-effective, and non-injurious manner to remove soot, scale, and other accumulations from the interior surfaces of boilertubes and at the same operation to polish such surfaces.

The agencies combined to produce the above results are-a two plurality of direct or positive acting entering cutters the axes of which are fixed with relation to the cutterh cad-actuating arbor or spindle, whereby they have positive action, and a plurality of indirect or resultantacting finishing-cutters the axes of which are shifting with relation to the cutter-head-actuating arbor, whereby these cutters are adapted for five operative movements-namely, a bodily rotary movement about the axis of the actuating-arbor,a radial movementfrom the force of centrifugal action, the cutters being projected laterally and contacting with the surfaces of the boiler-tubes, giving impact, a return movement from the im pact, a rotary movement about their own axes, and a tangential movement from the loose rollingof the cutters on their-axes as they are carried in a circular path about the actuatingarbor,causingadraggingaction thecombined movements being like those of a cold or stouecutters chisel as usually moved under the impact of a hammer, givinga chipping action, and the force of action of these cuttersthat is to say, the degree of their'action-being directly proportional to and governed by the speed at which the cutter-head is driven.

Briefly stated, the tube-cleaner characterized by my in vcntion comprises two coacting mechanisms-11amely, the cutter or cleaner head and the driving mechanism therefor.

The cleaner-head consists of a live spindle or arbor carrying two sets of cuttersthe positive-acting cutters and the resultantacting cutters. The positive-motion cutters are located at the entering or front end of the cut tor-head and are adapted for removing the bulk of soot or scale from the boiler-tubes, while the res ultant-acting cutters are adapted for removing any deposit left by the positiveacting cutters and polishing the insides of the tubes. The positive-acting cutters may be constructed in any manner to produce the desired results, and in this instance I have shown two different kinds of cutters which may be employed. The first or preferred embodiment consists of an assemblage of conical rose-cutters the axes of which are fixed with relation to the cutter-head-actuating arbor, the cutters being mounted upon their axes in such manner as to have rotary movement thereon, but no eccentric or tangential movement with relation to the actuating-arbor. The second embodiment consists of an assemblage of ordinary armed rotary cutters rigidly fixed to the arbor and having chisel cutting-points, the diameters of the succeeding cutters being increased from the entering point of the cutter-head toward its rear in accordance with the pitch of the cone-shaped portion, so that rapid and effective cutting away of the accumulation within the tube may be effected.

The resultant-acting cutters are mounted in sets or series upon dead-spindles and are adapted for both rotary and radial reciprocatory movements thereon, the latter movement being caused by the force of centrifugal action when the cutter-head is being revolved. These latter cutters, as their name indicates, are not positive in their actionthat is to say, they do not present such resistance to movement upon their axes as would tend to injure or cut away the boiler-tube-but by reason of the rapidity with which the cutter-head is rotated when in use the centrifugal force with which they are projected will be suflicient to cause them to accomplish the function for which they are designed.

By the described manner of mounting the resultant-acting cutters each cutter of one or of the whole of the sets or series of cutters is adapted for rotation and lateral projection independently of every other cutter-that is to say, when the cutter-head is under rota: tion centrifugal force will tend to project every set or series of these cutters outward to the limit of the arc in which they are designed to move-yet under impact one or more cutters of any series may occupy a plane out of peripheral alinement with the remaining cutters of the same or any other series, so that it will be seen that each cutter of every series may work in a different plane, or each succeeding cutter of a series of cutters starting from the entering end of the cutter-head may cut in a path larger than the preceding cutter of the same or a diiferent series of cutters, or any individual cutter of a series of cutters will yield independently of the remaining cutters of the same series should an obstruction be encountered which will not yield to the action of such particular cutter.

The cutter as a whole is built on a taper from its entering end to a point about twothirds (more or less) of its entire length and is then straight or has its sides parallel with the axis of the actuating-arbor for the remainder of its length. The positive-acting cutters are thus caused to do all the heavy work, and the resultant-acting cutters only take off the last scale and polish the tubes. By thus making the rear portion of the cutter-head straight and but slightly smaller in diameter than the tube the positive-acting cutters can never come into actual contact with the metal of the tube.

Back of the resultant-acting cutters is arranged a guide, which is secured to the arbor in any suitable manner between the point of attachment of the driving-shaft to the arbor and the cutter-head. The function of this guide is to give greater length to the cutterhead and also to afford a bearing in order to relieve friction and strain on the disks at the rear portion of the cutter-head, which disks hold the cutters in operative position, and this guide also serves to keep the cutter-head from tipping forward, and thus causes it to move in a true direction and also prevents the positive-acting cutters from coming into actual contact with the boiler-tubes.

The driving means for the cutter-head consists of a flexible shaft connected at one end. with the cutter-head and at the opposite end to suitable driving mechanism, in this instance a steam-engine, although it is to be understood that in lieu of a steam-engine an electric motor or other engine may be employed. The flexible shaft and engine are suspended from an overhead support, which may be either a solid bar or a cable, preferably the latter, as it will yield to the vibrations of the engine, and thereby prevent destructive racking of the motor or engine and also the building in which the mechanism may be located. It is to be understood, however, that the same yielding or resilient results may be obtained by employing a rigid bar in lieu of the cable and by having the supports for the engine spring-seated, The flexible shaft for erases driving the cutter-head may be supported in any suitable manner from the cable, the hangers or supports employed being provided with trolleys for running upon the cable, so that the cutter-head may be moved to and from the boiler with readiness and ease. The engine hangers or supports are also provided with trolleys or grooved sheaves for running on the cable, so that in use the engine may be moved back and forth with the cutter-head.

In order to supply steam to the engine while being moved in the operation of the cutterhead, jointed steam-pipes may be employed, the upper joints of which will be supported by trolleys from thecables, or in lieu of these steam-pipes an ordinary steam-hose may be employed for the same purpose. The great advantage of this simple mechanism for driving the cutter-head resides in the fact that it can be moved the entire length of a tube to be cleaned with facility and that, being supported overhead, it Will at all times be in position for use and yet be out of the way.

Further and more specific details of construction will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, partly in section, displaying the apparatus as a whole in operative relation with a boiler. Fig. 2 is a detail view of a modified form of hanger for the engine. Fig. 3 is a view in plan,

partly in section, of one form of cutter-head, displaying the entering point provided with conical rose-cutters and showing the first series of resultant-acting cutters as tapered toward the entering point. Fig. lisa view similar to Fig. 3, showing the first series of resultant-acting cutters as mounted upon spindles occupying a plane at an angle to the actuatingarbor. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the entering end of the cutter-head provided with positive acting rotary cutters. Fig. 6 is a view in sectional elevation displaying all the parts of the cutter-head assembled. Fig. 7 is a detail View of the entering point shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is a similar view of the entering point shown in Fig. 4. Fig.- 9 is a detail view of one of the plates in which are held the spindles supporting the resultant-acting cutters.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the cutter-head, the same comprising an arbor or live-spindle A upon which, at suitable distances apart, are placed disks (1, each disk being cut away on diametrically opposite sides to form semicircular recesses, the function of which will be described farther on. Each disk hasan openinginits centerprovided with a keyway in which fits a key a on the arbor, and by means of this key the disks are held in place against turning independently of the arbor. The cutter-head when set up forms a structure having two general butlinesto-wit, one portion, the rear portion in erases use having the outline of a regular right cylinder and the other portion the outline of a frustum of a cone with parallel base and top. The disks on the cylinder-shaped portion of the cutter-head are provided near their peripheries with openings a in which are fitted dead-spindles of, which latter occupy a plane parallel with that of the arbor on which the disks are placed. The disks at the cone-shaped portion of the cutter-head are also provided with openings a through which pass dead-spindles a, which latter may lie in a plane either parallel with or at an angle to the actuating arbor, according to whether the resultant-acting cutters on a spindle are of the same size throughout or whether they gradually taper toward the entering point, as in the first instance the spindle would lie parallel with the arbor and in the second instance would occupy a plane at an angle thereto. The disks are held separated at proper distances apart by thimbles or collars 0. As shown in Fig. 3 and other figures, each spindle a is of a length to span five of the disks (1 at the rear portion of the cutterhead, (although they may be made to span only three or a greater number than five, if desired,) but will only have hearing when spanning five of the disks, in three of these disks, as the cut-away portion a? of every alternate disk will come opposite a spindle, the ends of the spindles being reduced to fit snugly within the openings a in the disks, thus to present shoulders by which the disks will be held at the requisite distance apart when the parts of the head are assembled. Upon each of these spindles a is placed a series of serrated cutters a, constituting the resultantacting cutters, the function which they perform being supplemental to the positive-acting cutters, the cutters ct being held separated from contact with each other by washers a The openings in the cutters a through which the spindles a pass are of greater diameter than the spindles, so that when the cutter-head is rapidly revolved the cutters a will by centrifugal force be projected outward beyond the perimeters of the disks, and thus in positionto contact with the scale and inner wall of the tubing. The loose character of the assemblage of the cutters a with relation to the spindles a is such that the impact between the cutters and the scale on the tube will cause the said cutters as a series or independently of each other to recede or rebound and then rapidly again to advance, the latter motion being due to centrifugal action, so that there will be a direct impact and a dragging or scraping action on the part of the points of the cutters with relation to the tube, and at the same time a ro tary motion will be imparted to these cutters, so that in effect the frictional contact between these cut-ters and the tube is so slight that while in reality it will be sufficient thoroughly to remove the remaining scale from the tube and at the same time to polish it, yet it will not operate with any appreciable degree of force to wear away the cutters or inside of the tube. As shown in this case, there are ten of these disks a, and instead of having the spindles C04 extend the length of the cutter-head they may only extend a portion of the length, as stated, the reduced end of the spindles toward the front of the cutterhead being only of sufficient length to fill half of one of the length of the openings at in the center disk 66, the remaining length of these openings being occupied by the reduced ends of like spindles extending to the front of the cutter-head.

As shown in Fig. 3, the front series of resultant-acting cutters taper toward the entering end of the cutter-head to present the frustnm of a cone referred to, whilein Fig. 5 the spindles carrying these front series of cutters are set at an angle with relation to the shaft A thus effecting the same result. At the entering end of the cutter-head are located the positive-acting or primary cutters, "which, as shown in Fig. 3, consist of a plurality of cone-shaped rose-cutters a which are mounted between and project beyond the peripheries of separating-disks A a snfficient distance for thorough and effective operation in use. As shown in Fig. '7, but two of these cutters are mounted between each pair of disks A but it is to be understood that I may employ any other desired number of cutters and any other desired number of disks and that these cutters may taper from the front or entering end of the head toward the right cylinder portion thereof. The cutters a are held in position between the disks A byshoulderbolts of, which pass through the disks and are held each by a head on one side and a nut on the other, and are thus kept from turning in the openings in which they fit. The openings in the rose-cutters through which these bolts pass are only enough larger than the bolts to permit the cutters to whirl on the bolts when the arbor or live-spindle is being rotated, but never to have an eccentric or tangential motion. The advantage in this form of a positive-acting cutter is that it acts upon the scale and material to be cut away in the same manner as emery-wheel 'truers, while the frictional resistance presented to rotation of the cutters upon their respective spindles or bolts will be such as to operate effectively to dislodge and remove any scale, and by causing the cutters to have an independent movement of their own about their axes or bolts rapid wearing away of the cutters will be obviated, as when the cuttingpoints are suddenly or forcibly presented to the accumulation to be removed, so that one lOO set of cutters will last for a Very long time revolve therewith. The cutters a may be of the ordinary form of rotary cutter and may be provided with any number of arms, as two, three, four, or any other desired number, in this instance three being shown, the ends of the arms having chisel cutting-points. These latter cutters may, as a whole, be of the same transverse diameter; but by preference they gradually increase in transverse diameter from the entering point of the cutter-head rearward and also in cross-diameter, so that the cut of the chisel edges is gradually increased from the front to the rear,

thus by gradations cutting away scale or ob-' structions within their reach and relieving the toothed or serrated resultant-acting cutters from undue frictional contact with obstructions and consequent wear.

At the rear of the resultant-acting cutters is arranged a guide A, the same being held upon the rear portion of the actuating-arbor by bolts a This guide is in cross-section fluted, as shown in Fig. 10, and is of a size to fit snugly within the tube and operates to give greater length to the cutter-head and also to afford a bearing to relieve the disks a from undue friction. This guide also keeps the tube-cleaner from tipping forward, thereby preventing the positive-acting cutters from coming into actual contact with the tube, and also guides it in the proper direction. The guide may be constructed of any suitable material, preferably of brass, and by reason of its fluted periphery it may be easily moved Within a tube.

When all the parts of the cutter-head are assembled, as shown in Fig. 3 and other figures, they are held from separation by a nut 0., turned on the end of the arbor. It will be seen that a single nut keeps all the parts of the cutter-head in operative relation with each other and that to separate the parts it will only be necessary to remove this nut. The advantage of this construction is that it obviates the employment of a multiplicity of locking devices, such as are usually employed, and thereby reduces the danger of derangement of the parts to a minimum.

As a means for operating the cutter-head I employ a flexible shaft A that is to say, an ordinary coiled spring inclosed in a suitable casing. This shaft is secured at one end to the actuating-arbor of the cutter-head and at its opposite end to the drive-shaft of an engine A The shaft and engine are suspended from an overhead support A which may be a wire cable, as shown, or a rigid bar. As a means for suspending the engine from a cable a hanger A is employed, the upper portion of which carries trolleys running on the cable and the lower portion being secured mate Fig. 2, so that the same resilient result will be attained in this case as where a yielding cable is employed. The shaft A is supported by hangers A the upper portions of which carry trolleys running on the support, and the lower portion of these hangers are connected by a trough A in which the flexible shaft rests, and by this arrangement the cutter-head, and with it the engine, may be moved to and from the tubes of a boiler with readiness and ease and without the output of a great amount of exertion.

As a means for supplying steam to the engine I may employ a series of jointed steampipes A ,supported by trolleys from the cable,

as shown, or in lieu of these jointed pipes I may employ an ordinary steam-hose supported by overhead trolleys or otherwise.

All of the parts of the shaft-operating mechanismthat is to say, the engine and the steam-pipes connecting therewith-are adapted for ready movement on the cable, so that an, operator will be enabled to move the engine back and forth in the operation of the device as may be requisite without great labor and loss of time. In this instance I have shown a steam-engine for driving the shaft; but it is to be understood that, if preferred, any other form of motor may be employedas, for instance, an electric motor or a gasolene-engine.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. A boiler-tube cleaner comprising a driving-arbor, fixed spindles approximately parallel with the arbor or axis of motion or rotation, and rollers carried on the said spindles, the openings in the rollers being of greater diameter than the spindles, whereby, under the force of centrifugal action, incident to rotation, the said rollers may be projected laterally from their spindles together, or independently of each other, substantially as described.

2. A boiler-tube cleaner comprising a driving-arbor, fixed spindles approximately parallel with the arbor, and cutters carried on said spindles, the openings in the cutters being of greater diameter than the spindles, substantially as described.

3. A boiler-tube cleaner or scraper comprising a cutter-head carrying sets of cutters, the axes of which are shiftable with relation to their spindles or supports, the cutters being adapted in series, or each cutter of a series of cutters independently of the cutters of the same or of any other series, to be projected laterally beyond the periphery of the cutterhead substantially as described.

4. A boiler-tube cleaner orscraper com prising a cutter-head carrying positive-acting entering cutters, rigidly secured to the actuating-arbor, and sets of resultant-acting finishing-cutters, the axes of which are shiftable with relation to the said arbor, the latter cutters being adapted in sets, or independently .linishing-cutters, the axial openings of the latter cutters being of greater diameter than theirsupporting-spindles, whereby these outters are adapted in series, or independently of each other,t0 be projected laterally beyond the periphery of the cutter-h ead,substantially as described.

6. A boiler-tube cleaner or scraper com prising a cutter-head carrying entering cutters, the cutting edges of which are fixed in relation with and lie in a plane at an angle to the axis of the cutter-head, and finishing-cutters the axial openings of which are of greater diameter than their supporting spindles,

whereby these cutters are adapted in series,-

or independently of each other, to be projected laterally beyond the periphery of the cutter-head, substantially as described.

7. A boiler-tube cleaner orscraper comprising a cutter-head carrying entering cutters, the cutting edges of which are in fixed relation with, and lie in a plane at an angle to, the axis of the cutter-head, finishing-cutters the axial openings of which are of greater diameter than their supporting-spindles, whereby these cutters are adapted in series, or inde pendently of each other, to be projected laterally beyond the periphery of the cutterhead, and aguide for holding the cutter-head in proper position with relation to a boilertube, substantially as described.

8. A boiler-tu be cleaner or scraper comprising a cutter-head carrying entering rose-cutters, and toothed finishing-cutters arranged back of the rose-cutters, the axial openings of the finishing-cutters being of greater diameter than their supporting-spindles, whereby these latter cutters are adapted in series, or independently of each other, to be projected laterally beyond the periphery of the cutterhead, substantially as described.

9. Aboiler-tube cleaner orscraper comprising a cutter-head carrying entering rose-cutters the cutting edges of which lie in a plane at an angle to the axis of the head, and toothed finishing-cutters arranged back of the rose-cutters, the axial openings of the finishing-cutters being of greater diameter than their supporting-spindles, whereby these latter cutters are adapted in series, or independently of each other, to be projected laterally beyond the periphery of the cutter-head, substantially as described.

10. A boiler-tube cleaner or scraper comprising a cutter-head carrying entering rosecutters, toothed finishing-cutters arranged back of the rose-cutters, the axial openings in the finishing-cutters being of greater diameter than their supporting-spindles, whereby these latter cutters are adapted in series, or independently of each other, to be projected laterally beyond the periphery of the cutterhead, and a guide arranged back of the finishing-cutters, substantially as described.

11. A boiler-tube cleaner or scraper comprising a cutter-head carrying entering rosecutters the cutting edges of which lie in a plane at an angle to the axis of the head, toothed finishing-cutters arranged back of the rose-cutters, the axial openings of the finishing-cutters being of greater diameter than their supporting-spindles, whereby these latter cutters "are adapted in series, or independently of each other, to be projected laterally beyond the periphery of the cutterhead, and a guide arranged back of the finishing-cutters, substantially as described.

12. A boiler-tube cleaner or scraper comprising a head carrying a plurality of positive-motion cutters, the axes of which are fixed with relation to the cutter-actuating arbor, whereby they have positive action, and a plurality of finishing-cutters, the axes of which are shifting with relation to the cutter-actuating arbor, whereby these cutters are adapted for five operative movements, namely, a bodily-rotary movement about the axis of the actuating-arbor,'a radial movement from the force of centrifugal action, the cutters being projected laterally and contacting with the surfaces of the boiler-tubes, giving impact, a return movement from the impact, a rotary movement about their own axes, and a tangential movement from the loose rolling of the cutters on their axes, as they are carried in a circular path about the actuating-arbor, giving-a dragging action, the combined movements giving a chipping action, the force of which is directly proportional to, and governed by, the speed at which the cutter-head is driven, substantially as described.

13. Aboiler-tube cleaner and scraper comprising a head carrying aseries of disks, the disks on alternately-opposite sides throughout the series being cut away to form recesses,

dead'spindles supported by the disks, finishing-cutters mounted on the spindles, said cutters being free to have a reciprocatoryradial movement independently of their spindles, conical rose-cutters at the entering end of the head, means for holding the parts assembled, and a guide at the rear end of the cutter-head, substantially as described.

14. The combination with a boiler-tube cleaner or scraper, of a flexible shaft, an overhead support arrangcd contiguous to the' boiler, a hanger adapted to be moved on the support, an engine or motor suspended from the hanger and connected with the shaft, and means movable to and from the boiler for supporting the said shaft, substantially as described.

15. The combination with a boiler tube cleaner or scraper, of a flexible shaft, an overhead support arranged contiguous to the boiler, a hanger provided with trolleys to run on the support, an engine or motor suspendlIIO ed from the hanger and connected with the shaft, wheeled supports arranged in front of the engine, and means carried by the latter supports for supporting the shaft, substantially as described.

16. The combination with a boiler-tube cleaner or scraper, of afleXible shaft, an overhead support arranged contiguous to the boiler, a hanger provided with spring-seated trolleys running on the support, an engine suspended from the hanger and connecting with the shaft, Wheeled supports arranged in front of the engine and carrying, at their lowerends, a trough for supporting the shaft, and a steam-supply pipe also supported from the trolleys at the rear of the engine, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

GAMALIEL 0. ST. JOHN.

Witnesses:

GEO. S. BEITH, J r., GUSTAVE SAUER. 

